NEW ARGENTINE COUP

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1944, Page 5

NEW ARGENTINE COUP

AGAINST WAR MOVE Government May Go [Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.] . NEW YORK, Feb. 16. Vice-Admiral Benito Sueyro has been appointed the Argentine Foreign Minister; Honorio Silguira, Minister of Justice and Education; and Lieut.-Colonel Dominga Cortese, Presidential Secretary, replacing three members of Cabinet who resigned or were ousted. I A group of Army officers, alarmed at reports that Argentina was about to declare war on the Axis, 'seized the Foreign Ministry, and ousted the Foreign Minister (Gilbert) and the Under-Secretary- for Foreign Affairs (Ibarra Garcia). This was a true coup d’etat, shook the Cabinet to the foundations, and caused the resignation of the Presidential Secretary (Gonzales), as well as the other two. , The notorious G.O.U. (a group of officers), which represents the more Violently neutralist wing of Army, ejected the two men .most directly responsible for Argentina’s foreign policy. The G.O.U. would like Ramirez to remain President, and thus avoid the issue of international recognition. If Ramirez were violently ousted the new Government would be faced with a non-recogmtion problem similar to Bolivia’s. This is considered R’amirez’s trump card, placing him in comparatively a strong position. Yet he may have to go. Colonel Juan D. Peron. head of the Labour and Social Welfare Departments, controls most of the Army through the G.O.U. Moreover, many officers actually commanding troops have already declared themselves anti-Ramirez. The G.O.U. coup at the Foreign Ministry was carried out with such efficient secrecy that most people were not aware, that anything unusual was occurring.. It appears clear that the G.0.U., which was always opposed to any rupture with the Axis, is again firmly in the saddle. , , . The Monte Video correspondent, of the Associated Press of America said: The opinion here is that Ramirez’s resignation will-be forced and that the Vice-Prc’sident (General Edelmiro Farrell) will succeed him. An Associated Press correspondent said: There was a German protest against the detention of a Military Attache, General Riedrich Wolff. It brought Argentina close to war andprecipitated the coup. According to an informed diplomatic source, - an insolent German note on February II denied charges of Nazi espionage in Argentina, and threatened • reprisals .against Argentinian diplomats in occupied countries. Senor. Gilbert angrily demanded a declaration of war against the Reich and rupture of relations with Spain because of complicity in Axis espionage. The Nationalist officers- refused to agree to a declaration. Gilbert, Garcia and Gonzales were forced to resign.